For students who don’t have access to the internet or have spotty coverage, tailgating may be the solution. 

Two parking lots at Lamar University have been converted to Wi-Fi parking lots. Cardinals can now pull in, fire up their laptops and complete school work all while social distancing.

The faculty/staff lot between Brook Shivers Dining Hall and the Communications Building, D5, and the faculty/staff lot between the Galloway Business Building and the Music Building, E1, are now designated lots for students who need internet access during the pandemic.

“When we did the retention polls, at the onset of the pandemic, about 260 students who took the survey, said they didn’t have good internet or internet at all,” said Katrina Brent, assistant provost, Enrollment Management. “I asked our IT department if we could provide Wi-Fi in the parking lots so students could come in their cars and use our campus Wi-Fi.”

IT worked with parking and LUPD to designate the lots. The lots’ gates will open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., and technical support will be available on 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Closing gates will remain down until a car pulls up and triggers the gates release to open. LUPD will monitor the lots to ensure safety.

“Due to social distancing, we ask that the students remain either in their vehicles or at least in the area directly around their vehicles,” said Patrick Stewart, senior director, IT Infrastructure/Operations. “If they want to sit on their tailgate or trunk, that’s fine, too. We are not adding any additional seating in these areas due to social distancing.”

Prior to accessing the wireless park, students should read information about accessing the campus wireless to associate laptops or devices with the campus Wi-Fi. Students can then access Wi-Fi in the lots just as they would anywhere else on the campus.

“During this challenging time, we want to ensure all students have access to the tools they need to be successful and end the semester strong,” said Brent.